Week 28 of 52: Pandemic Preparedness

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With the assistance of Daisy Luther, editor of The Organic Prepper, we set out to add even more information to the original web series, organize and transform it into a book that encompassed all forms of disasters – both big and small. With all of the additional information added, the title even changed toThe Prepper’s Blueprint to help readers understand that preparedness isn’t just about having a plan, it requires drawing out a blueprint to set a preparedness foundation you can build upon and rely on when the time comes.

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About the Prepper's Blueprint

Across the ages, in every survival story, a disaster of some sort plays a prominent role. Sometimes the part is played by the government, sometimes it is played by Mother Nature, and other times, the role is taken on by a random mishap. If we have learned one thing studying the history of disasters, it is this: those who are prepared have a better chance at survival than those who are not.

A crisis rarely stops with a triggering event. The aftermath can spiral, having the capacity to cripple our normal ways of life. Because of this, it's important to have a well-rounded approach to our preparedness efforts. Due to the overwhelming nature of preparedness, we have created the Prepper's Blueprint to help get you and your family ready for life's unexpected emergencies. To make a more comprehensive, easy-to-follow program, The Prepper's Blueprint has been simplified and divided up in a way to help you make sense of all the preparedness concepts and supply lists provided. We have divided the chapters into layers of preparedness.

Layer 1: Chapters 1-14, prepares you for those everyday disasters that have shorter-term effects: power outages, storms, injuries, and evacuations

Layer 2: Chapters 15-31 help you to get ready for disasters that turn out to be much longer-lasting: economic collapse, long term power outages, and pandemics, to name a few

Layer 3: Chapters 32-56 prepares you for the long haul and a complete change of lifestyle, the end of the world as we know it: providing food and water once supplies run out, security, retreat properties, and long-term plans

The goal of The Prepper's Blueprint is to help you find freedom through self-reliance, and ultimately, to get you and your family to a point where you can not only survive, but thrive, in a world that may be permanently altered.

The following chapter is part of the free 52 Weeks to Preparedness web series

Week 28 of 52: Pandemic Preparedness

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), serious, contagious disease outbreaks can and do happen. CDC investigates new contagious diseases—averaging one new contagion per year. Given our vast array of transportation systems, these diseases can end up at our doorstep far more rapidly compared to any other time in recorded history. Since pandemics are fast moving, vaccinations would be useless. When an outbreak occurs, those living in cities, and those living in close proximity of others will be more at risk. Statistics from previous pandemics indicate that 30–60 percent of the population will contract an illness. Any pregnant women, infants, elderly people, or those with chronic medical conditions are also at risk and could be the first of the population to contract the contagious illness. When the pandemic begins, many will remain in a state of denial about any approaching epidemics and not want to think of the long lasting repercussions of such a disaster. Being prepared before the mass come out of their daze will ensure that you are better prepared before the hoards run to the store to stock up. Having first hand knowledge of the government’s protocols before this type of emergency arises can help put you ahead of the game. Understanding that our lives will change drastically if the population is faced with a pandemic and being prepared for this can help you make better choices toward the well being of your family. Some changes could be:

Interruptions in public facilities – Schools, workplaces may close, and public gatherings such as sporting events or worship services may close temporarily.

Government mandated voluntary or involuntary home quarantine.

With any type of disaster or emergency, the responsibility falls more heavily upon our shoulders to ensure that we are able meet our needs. However, this is not anything new to a prepper. We believe in being self reliant, and if you have followed the 52-Weeks to Preparedness series, you should well be on your way to handle such a disaster. So how do we prepare properly for this type of emergency? Similar to other emergencies we simply prepare as much as we can because any steps taken toward preparedness are better than none at all. Here are a few ideas to consider on how to better prepare for family for this type of emergency:

Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they became ill.

Finding out your employer’s plans and ask your child’s school or day care what their protocol is during epidemic outbreaks.

Have some supplies prepared in your workplace.

Identify how you can get information, whether through local radio, TV, Internet or other sources.

Tess Pennington is the author of The Prepper’s Blueprint, a comprehensive guide that uses real-life scenarios to help you prepare for any disaster. Because a crisis rarely stops with a triggering event the aftermath can spiral, having the capacity to cripple our normal ways of life. The well-rounded, multi-layered approach outlined in the Blueprint helps you make sense of a wide array of preparedness concepts through easily digestible action items and supply lists.

Tess is also the author of the highly rated Prepper’s Cookbook, which helps you to create a plan for stocking, organizing and maintaining a proper emergency food supply and includes over 300 recipes for nutritious, delicious, life-saving meals.

Visit her web site at ReadyNutrition.com for an extensive compilation of free information on preparedness, homesteading, and healthy living.

I read evidence that the N95 mask is not going to be sufficient to protect you from viruses. They are for those who are sick and don’t want to spread the virus to others. You need a face covering masks and this site does a good job explaining which ones – in addition it covers the latest virus mutation developments like MERS-CoV. Read it here http://www.h9n11.com/pandemic-preparation.html

“Lose” this month’s medicine and get a replacement. Most insurance will allow one loss per year. Go to a second doctor and get a prescription. Pay for the meds. Now you have a 2-month, or 6-month stockpile.

GWEN: YOU Asked your doctor for a 6 month prescription or a year, and the only way I’m aware of is that you pay for it yourself with cash.
I did that in Missouri…I got a years supply of high blood pressure medicine a few years ago, and you are still allowed to continue to get your 90 day’s worth. Hope this helps. The dr. doesn’t care if you tell him why you want to do that.

OKUG: People need to have their prescription medicine ahead of a pandemic…Otherwise how will they get it? When things get bad, the delivery trucks won’t be bringing medicine to the local pharmacy. People best stock up on their beer, wine, cigarettes, soda or anything else that they have to have, coffee or whatever because a time will come when none of it will be there. TRUST ME…I’ve studies about this for years, and now here it is…BE PREPARED.

One more item everyone seems to overlook on their pandemic list is a burn barrel. Once you have a few plastic garbage bags of medical waste you really don’t want to have to have them sitting around in an ever growing heap. And I doubt seriously the Waste Management trucks will be picking them up. Ergo, burning them as they accrue will be your safest and best bet.

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